You may remember Zone Out as the beautiful Melbourne four-piece pop band led by Ashley Bundang (of Totally Mild, Ciggie Witch and Sui Zhen). They gigged quite a bit around Melbourne, released a couple of great home-recorded EPs and singles, and then quietly dissipated last year.From the remnants of that band has formed a new Zone Out; this time a duo featuring Bundang and original member Dove Bailey (of Scotdrakula). The switch in members has brought with it a notable switch in palette; the band slip even further into the astral plain that they had flirted with from the beginning. Gone are the multi-layered guitars and in their place are organ drones and programmed drums.“Inside” is the debut single for the new Zone Out. The video features the band tormenting what should be a happy couple; hiding in wheelie bins and fridges. Noisey had a chat to Ashley about the video and Zone Out's new direction.Noisey: What made you two guys decide to start making music under the Zone Out name again?
Ashley Bundang: After we made the decision to revise the lineup, we spent a lot of time deliberating whether we should keep the name or not. Zone Out originally started as a solo project, then developed into a four-piece band, and is now a two-piece. The music we are making now is stylistically different, but we figured there was enough consistency in certain elements (like vocals and the sentiments expressed within the songs) to warrant keeping the name, and for people who knew the band pre-duo, to not be super confused.…Also, starting a new Facebook page is so annoying and we didn’t want to let those pre-existing Facebook likes go to waste.What has changed in the way you guys approach making music since the lineup change?
It's definitely more collaborative as a duo. The song-writing process starts off the same, I write the chords and lyrics, but instead of taking full responsibility in writing all the other elements, I bring it to Dove and we work together in developing the song. These days, we record and write simultaneously, so us “having a jam” usually consists of staring at a computer screen for hours on end.The video doesn't end on such a happy note for the couple; do you guys think they were eventually able to get rid of their hangers-on?
The concept of the video was developed/directed by our friend (and Dove’s sis) Lizzy Bailey. The lyrics of the song talks about how difficult it is to escape the past, the consequences they have on the present and the resignation and acceptance of it all. I felt like Lizzy expands on that sentiment by having the hangers-on fully take over and actually live the lives of the couple at the end.
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Ashley Bundang: After we made the decision to revise the lineup, we spent a lot of time deliberating whether we should keep the name or not. Zone Out originally started as a solo project, then developed into a four-piece band, and is now a two-piece. The music we are making now is stylistically different, but we figured there was enough consistency in certain elements (like vocals and the sentiments expressed within the songs) to warrant keeping the name, and for people who knew the band pre-duo, to not be super confused.…Also, starting a new Facebook page is so annoying and we didn’t want to let those pre-existing Facebook likes go to waste.What has changed in the way you guys approach making music since the lineup change?
It's definitely more collaborative as a duo. The song-writing process starts off the same, I write the chords and lyrics, but instead of taking full responsibility in writing all the other elements, I bring it to Dove and we work together in developing the song. These days, we record and write simultaneously, so us “having a jam” usually consists of staring at a computer screen for hours on end.The video doesn't end on such a happy note for the couple; do you guys think they were eventually able to get rid of their hangers-on?
The concept of the video was developed/directed by our friend (and Dove’s sis) Lizzy Bailey. The lyrics of the song talks about how difficult it is to escape the past, the consequences they have on the present and the resignation and acceptance of it all. I felt like Lizzy expands on that sentiment by having the hangers-on fully take over and actually live the lives of the couple at the end.
Zone Out have a 7” single out this month via new Melbourne imprint Deaf Ambitions.Catch them launch it at the Catfish in Melbourne on Nov 26.